Genetic Value Bull Sale

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Genetic Value Bull Sale"

Transcription

1 Genetic Value Bull Sale March 28, 2013 Glasgow Stockyards 1 p.m. Selling: 14 Bulls & A few good pairs Woodland Farms C. K. Allen 362 Hwy 537, P O Box 186 Hinsdale, MT Home, cell ckallen@nemont.net

2 The Woodland Story C. K. Allen and Woodland Farms are new to the Hi-Line moving to Hinsdale in April of Originally from southwest Virginia, C. K. moved to Missouri after receiving graduate degrees in ruminant nutrition from Michigan State University in He was in charge of performance programs for the American Polled Hereford Association for 6 years, CEO of the Angus Association for 3 years, served on the board of the American Gelbvieh Association for 6 years and was President in his final year. C. K. was raised with registered Hereford and Polled Hereford cattle and started his Angus herd in His first Angus production sale was in He also experimented with registered Simmental, Gelbvieh, Charolais and produced both F1 and F2 Angus based composites of these Continental breeds while in Missouri. Woodland Farms fed cattle in a commercial feedlot on a small scale for about 30 years prior to moving to Montana, to get carcass data on sires used in the Woodland herd. C. K. decided to concentrate strictly on Angus in the early 2000 s for simplicity and after discovering that his purebred Angus grew as fast or faster in the feedlot and had much better yield grades than expected. In addition he discovered that his purebred Angus cows stayed in the herd longer, had less calving problems and higher pregnancy rates than his half Angus Composites. He did learn that larger rib eyes and more carcass weight would enhance the carcass value. In recent years, Woodland Farms has made progress in REA, carcass weight, growth and docility but insist on maintaining fertility and calving ease as we improve other traits. C. K. was honored in 2002 when Certified Angus Beef LLC presented him with a special Pioneer award and named him its 2002 Seedstock Commitment to Excellence Award winner. C. K. retired as an Associate Professor in Agriculture at Northwest Missouri State University after 20 years and started looking for a place in Northeast Montana to be near his grand children. He sold his Angus cowherd as a unit to a group of progressive young men in December 2006 and they continue to operate the herd in Mt. Ayr, Iowa as Woodland Angus LLC. The current Angus herd is small in numbers and, we think, high in genetic merit. The descend primarily from our embryo transfer program with our pick of ET heifers born in commercial herds in the spring and fall of Today most calves are produced from AI matings. Selection at Woodland Farms is for a balance of traits based on EPDs and we emphasize fertile, easy calving, trouble free cattle. We are selling all our 2012 bulls and a few females. Our approach is to calve most of our heifers and replace cows with younger heifers to turn generations as quickly as possible. General Sale Information Sale will be at the Glasgow Stockyards in Glasgow starting at 1 p.m. Sale Day Phone: C.K. Allen cell Phone We will use the regular Auctioneer and sale crew normally at the Stockyards. Cattle will sell under the Suggested Terms and Conditions published by the American Angus Association ( Free delivery on all bulls selling into Montana or $50 rebate per bull if you haul your own. All bulls selling will have passed a breeding soundness exam and are guaranteed breeders. Bulls have been vaccinated twice with mlv for viruses and vibrio-letpo. All cows are annually vaccinated for the same diseases and were given Scour Bos 9 prior to calving. All females and bulls have had their DNA evaluated by Igenity and that data has been incorporated into their EPD s. Three bulls (21, 23 & 219) were also evaluated by Pfizer 50K. Registration papers will be transferred to new owners. Woodland Farms has evaluated all yearlings for Carcass traits with since They will be evaluated again this year and that data will be put in this sale brochure. The American Angus Association runs the Angus National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) weekly. If new data is received by Tuesday it is included in the updated EPDs available Friday. We have listed most EPD s in this book but have left out accuracies and EPDs for a few traits. You can get all current EPDs and accuracies by logging on to the Angus web site. and inputting the registration number into the Animal Search space toward the top left corner and hitting enter. You do not have to be a member nor do you have to own the animal in question. EPDs printed here as of 2/22/13.

3 Woodland Payweight 21. His DNA analyzed by both Igenity & Pfizer. 21 Woodland Payweight 21 Woodland Objective Born: Feb. 1, 2012, BW 92, CE 1, Adj. WW 866, ratio 107; Adj. YW 1346, ratio 104; Adj. Scrotal 39.1 Calving ease * SC EPD 0.67 Vermillion Payweight J847 IMF 4.32, Ratio 96 REA 14.2, Ratio 105 Rib.27, Ratio 87 Rump.40, Ratio 105 Basin Payweight 107s Basin Lucy 3829 SydGen Corona 2016 Woodland Blackbird 93 (AMF) Woodland Blackbird 718 SS Traveler 6807 T510 SS Objective T510 0T26 SS Miss Rita R011 7R8 Gardens Prime Star 223 Woodland Blackbird 01 Woodland Blackbird 718 RADG 0.15 $W $B IMF 4.63, Ratio 103 REA 11.4, Ratio 84 Rib.25, Ratio 81 Rump.39, Ratio 103 RADG 0.10 $B Heifer bull, negative BW and born unassisted from a two year old. Dam s sire is one of the top proven bull for marbling. This bull excels in calving ease and growth. $W in the top 2% and $B in the top 10%. Bred right back and her second calf was born less than 12 months after her first. Dam is a maternal sister to the dam of #21. Powerful growth sire. Top 1% of the breed on Docility, CW, REA & $B. He also ranks in the top 2% on WW & top 3% on YW.. Dam is an impressive, moderate sized cow with a calving interval of 347 days with 2 calves averaging 103 on nursing ratio. Her first calf sold to Steve Hackley in our 2012 sale. He has the top Docility, top rib eye EPD and top $B in the sale. Gardens Prime Star G223 Basin Payweight 107S Powerful growth bull. Two sons, #21 & # 219, sell and #27 is out of a maternal sister $W Woodland Objective Born: Feb.3, 2012 BW 75, CE 1, Adj. WW 839, ratio 104; Adj. YW 1287, ratio 99, Adj. Scrotal 35.7 Calving ease **** SC EPD 0.22 Sire of the dam of 22. The #1 proven Angus bull for marbling in 2011 and #2 in Average EPDs for Non-Parent Angus Bulls (Spring 2013) CED BW WW YW RADG SC Docility CEM Milk CW Marb REA $W $B Pictures of the bulls selling: Snapshots taken prior to weaning (Aug. 30 to Sept. 6, All EPDs on the bulls selling are enhanced by Igenity DNA evaluation. Bulls 21, 23 & 219 were also evaluated by Pfizer 50K.

4 Woodland Forward 23. One of 3 bulls with DNA analysis by both Igenity and Pfizer. 23 Woodland Forward Born: Feb. 5, 2012, BW 77, CE 1, Adj. WW 863, ratio 107; Adj. YW 1314, ratio 101; Adj. Scrotal 37.7 Calving ease **** SC EPD 0.79 Connealy Onward Connealy Forward Becky Lee of Conanga 74 Hoover Dam Basin Blackcap Lady 0172 Basin Blackcap Lady 311S IMF 5.07, Ratio 112 REA 14.3, Ratio 106 Rib.29, Ratio 94 Rump.28, Ratio $W RADG 0.14 $B Big time heifer bull born unassisted out of a exceptional two year old. Negative BW, good growth and exceptional ultrasound data. He ranks in the top 1% for CED, CEM and $W. He is super attractive & very thick. Herd bull prospect. Woodland Redirect Woodland Redirect Born: Feb.11, 2012, BW 78, CE 1, Adj. WW 833, ratio 103; Adj. YW 1345, ratio 104; Adj. Scrotal 38.9 Calving ease **** SC EPD 1.32 C A Future Direction 5321 LD Redirect 11 L D 6148 Pride 9112 Summitcrest Complete 1P55 Basin Lucy 0006 Basin Lucy 308U IMF 6.79, Ratio 151 REA 14.1, Ratio 104 Rib.33, Ratio 106 Rump.43, Ratio $W RADG 0.20 $B Heifer bull born unassisted from a two year old. Top 1% of the breed for $B & rib eye EPD, top 2% for low fat. He excels in growth, calving ease, all carcass traits and RADG (residual average daily gain). Dam is flush sister to Basin Mission Complete in the ABS/ORIgen stud & top selling bull in the fall 2010 Basin Bull Sale. Connealy Forward He has a complete & balanced EPD profile. Excels in both measures of calving ease, growth, REA and docility. $160,000 high selling Angus Bull in Three sons sell: #23, #27 & #223. Basin Mission Complete, flush brother to dam of #25 & paternal brother to #225.. Average EPDs for Non-Parent Angus Bulls (Spring 2013) CED BW WW YW RADG SC Docility CEM Milk CW Marb REA $W $B

5 26 Woodland 5050 Design Born: Feb.11, 2012, BW 82, CE 1, Adj. WW 836, ratio 104; Adj. YW 1334, ratio 103; Adj. Scrotal 34.4 Calving ease **** SC EPD 0.17 Woodland 5050 New Design 26 B/R New Design 036 G A R New Design 5050 G A R Precision 706 SydGen Mandate 6079 Basin Ruby 0097 Basin Ruby U462 IMF 5.59, Ratio 124 REA 14.0, Ratio 104 Rib.32, Ratio 103 Rump.40, Ratio $W RADG 0.22 $B Heifer bull born unassisted from a two year old dam. Top 1% for marbling and $B. Top 3% for YW EPD and top 5% for REA. He excels in growth, calving ease, carcass traits, RADG and docility. He covers all the bases. 27 Woodland Forward Born: Feb.12, 2012, BW 67, CE 1, Adj. WW 759, twin; Adj. YW 1282, ratio 99; Adj. Scrotal 39.5 Calving ease *** SC EPD 1.07 Woodland Forward 27 Connealy Onward Connealy Forward Becky Lee of Conanga 74 Riverbend Mile High 3718 Basin Lucy 8361 Basin Lucy 3829 IMF 3.38, Ratio 75 REA 16.3, Ratio 121 Rib.26, Ratio 84 Rump.36, Ratio $W RADG 0.19 $B Born twin with a heifer and his 3 year old dam raised both with a combined actual wt. at 207 days of 1,317 lbs. Her first calf is my grandson s heifer, BR 98, WR 110 & YR 107. He is in top 1% for $W and REA. Also excels in growth, calving ease, carcass wt., and $B. Grand dam (3829) is one of the great cows of the breed. G A R New Design 5050 The sire of #26 and 2 great heifer born at Woodland in 2012, one of which ranks very high on $B is a calving ease, strong growth bull that ranks at the top of the breed on REA, docility, marbling, RADG & dollar values. Grandson John McColly and Woodland Lucy 12. John s pick of the 2011 heifers and she is a maternal sister to #27. Average EPDs for Non-Parent Angus Bulls (Spring 2013) CED BW WW YW RADG SC Docility CEM Milk CW Marb REA $W $B

6 WMR Timeless 458. Powerful growth bull. Son sells as # Woodland Timeless Born: Feb. 18, 2012, BW 80, CE 1, Adj. WW 752, ratio 93; Adj. YW 1224, ratio 94; Adj. Scrotal 37.2 Calving ease *** SC EPD 0.67 Woodland Timeless 211 Leachman Right Time WMR Timeless 458 Basin Lucy 3829 B/R Destination Woodland Blackbird 719 Woodland Blackbird 305 IMF 3.61, Ratio 80 REA 13.2, Ratio 98 Rib.38, Ratio 123 Rump.44, Ratio $W RADG 0.13 $B Heifer bull by the high growth sire, Timeless. Top 5% on $W. His dam has an average calving interval of 372 days, and 4 progeny average 97 on BR, 102 on WR and three yearlings average 102 on YR. RADG (Residual average daily gain) RADG EPD s a measure of post-weaning feed efficiency and is presented in pounds per day with a higher number being more favorable. Like all EPDs, it is best used for comparing animals. Basically RADG is extra daily gain in pounds produced by cattle fed the same amount of feed during the post-weaning phase of production. A difference of 0.10 pounds (between two bulls) would result in a progeny difference of 16 more pounds per head during a 160 day post-weaning period with no additional feed cost. RADG is not a cow efficiency tool. Woodland Payweight 219. Top 1% on 5 traits and top 2% on YW. One of 3 bulls with DNA analysis by both Igenity & Pfizer. 219 Woodland Payweight Born: Mar. 1, 2012, BW 88, CE 2, Adj. WW 842, ratio 104; Adj. YW 1362, ratio 105; Adj. Scrotal 37.5 Calving ease * SC EPD.96. Vermillion Payweight J847 Basin Payweight 107S Basin Lucy 3829 Gardens Wave Woodland Enjerica 933 Woodland Enjerica 791 IMF 3.94, Ratio 87 REA 14.3, Ratio 106 Rib.36, Ratio 116 Rump.31, Ratio $W RADG 0.16 $B Easy pull out of a first calf heifer. High growth cow bull that is in the top 1% for WW, CW, Rib Eye (REA), $W and $B. Also in top 2% for YW and top 5% for docility. Average EPDs for Non-Parent Angus Bulls (Spring 2013) CED BW WW YW RADG SC Docility CEM Milk CW Marb REA $W $B Pictures of Bulls Selling are snapshots taken prior to weaning, August 30 to September 6.

7 Woodland Ironstone Woodland Ironstone Born: Mar. 2, 2012 BW 84 CE 1 Adj. 205 WW 792, ratio 98; Adj. YW 1258, ratio 97; Adj. Scrotal 38.6 Calving ease * SC EPD.73 CA Future Direction 5321 R/M Ironstone 4047 B/R Ruby of Tiffany 5144 B/R Destination Woodland Power 717 Woodland Power 47 IMF 4.06, Ratio 90 REA 12.9, Ratio 96 Rib.29, Ratio 94 Rump.36, Ratio $W RADG 0.18 $B Maternal brother in last years sale had a REA of 16.4 and IMF ratio of 121 and sold to Robert Rolston. This bull ranks in the top 5% of the breed for marbling. Dam has a calving interval of 373 days, and 4 progeny average ratios are 98 on BR, 95 on WR. Three yearlings average 98 on YR, 114 on IMF and 101 on REA. His dam also sells. 223 Woodland Forward Born: Mar. 10, 2012, BW 86, CE 1, Adj. WW 751, ratio 93; Adj. YW 1319, ratio 102; Adj. Scrotal 35.8 Calving ease **** SC EPD 0.39 Woodland Forward 223. Top 2% $W. Connealy Onward Connealy Forward Becky Lee of Conanga 74 SS Objective T510 0T26 DC RWPC Erica U382 Basin Blackcap Lady 311S IMF 3.21, Ratio 71 REA 11.5, Ratio 85 Rib.44, Ratio 142 Rump.50, Ratio $W RADG 0.11 $B Heifer bull and his dam s second calf, her first had a WR of 111 and sold for $2750 at the NILE. Top 2% of the breed for $W. Excels in growth, docility, REA & $W. Calving Ease Selection. The most accurate way to select bulls to mate to heifers is to consider both CED EPD (7 or higher) and BW EPD (2.0 or less). CED stands for calving ease direct or the direct effect a bull has on calving ease. Actual birth weight is one of the least accurate indicators of calving ease. CEM or maternal calving ease indicates ease of presentation or how easy daughters of a bull give birth to calves, it is correlated to CED but a different trait. Over the long haul you will have less calving difficulty with heifers by breeding daughters of bulls with a high CEM EPD to bulls with a high CED EPD. High growth (EPDs for BW, WW, YW & CW) and more muscle (REA EPD) are antagonistic to calving ease but mot exclusive. In other words you can find bulls with more growth and more muscle and still have calving ease but it is much harder to find them. Woodland Farms has selected for antagonistic traits by trying to produce bulls that combine growth, muscle and calving ease. Calving Ease Ratings for Heifers: Highly Recommended ****, Recommended ***, Should Work on Large frame heifers **, Cows *

8 224 Woodland Bexter Born: Mar. 18, 2012, BW 88, CE 2, Adj. WW 818, ratio 101; Adj. YW 1234, ratio 95; Adj. Scrotal 37.6 Calving ease * SC EPD C R A Bexter Woodland Bexter 819 Woodland Blackbird 434 Gardens Wave Woodland Enjerica 930 Woodland Enjerica 793 IMF 4.96, Ratio 110 REA 12.4, Ratio 92 Rib.27, Ratio 87 Rump.35, Ratio $W RADG 0.18 $B Easy pull out of a first calf heifer. ET maternal brother sells as #231. He ranks in the top 1% for $W & top 2% for marbling. Dam is very impressive. 226 Woodland Bexter Born: Mar. 27, 2012, BW 82, CE 1, Adj. WW 762, ratio 95; Adj. YW 1282, ratio 99; Adj. Scrotal 34.4 Calving ease *** SC EPD 035. C R A Bexter Woodland Bexter 819 Woodland Blackbird 434 EXAR 263C Basin Lady 0098 Basin Lady U261 IMF 3.85, Ratio na REA 12.5, Ratio na Rib.20, Ratio na Rump..34, Ratio na $W RADG 0.17 $B Heifer bull born unassisted from a first calf heifer. He was too young when scanned so data did not adjust. His REA & IMF would have adj. up and 12.5 is a good rib eye for a bull that was only 312 days of age. 231 Woodland Program Born: Mar. 18, 2012, BW 74, CE 1, Adj. WW 601, ratio ET; Adj. YW 1099, ratio ET; Adj. Scrotal 34.9 Calving ease ** SC EPD C A Future Direction 5321 HA Program 5652 H A 4167 Lady 1013 Gardens Wave Woodland Enjerica 930 Woodland Enjerica 793 IMF 4.13, Ratio ET REA 12.7, Ratio ET Rib.23, Ratio ET Rump.27, Ratio ET $W RADG 0.21 $B ET heifer bull by the sire of some of the top bulls in last years sale. Natural maternal brother sells as #224. He was raised in a commercial herd and had no contemporaries. He excels in all carcass traits, growth, docility and dollar values. 225 Woodland Complete Born: Mar. 21, 2012, BW 92, CE 1, Adj. WW 847, ratio 99; Adj. YW 1215, ratio ET; Adj. Scrotal 37.2 Calving ease ** SC EPD Woodland Complete 225 C F Right Design 1802 Summitcrest Complete 1P55 Summitcrest Elba 1M17 Gardens Wave Woodland Enjerica 931 Woodland Enjerica 790 IMF 5.61, Ratio na REA 12.7, Ratio na Rib.25, Ratio na Rump.34, Ratio na $W RADG 0.15 $B ET calf out of a 5 year old registered recipient. He ranks in the top 2% for REA and top 4% for $B. He was 2 days too young when scanned so his REA and IMF are actual measures but are impressive. HA Program 5652 sire of #231 and the top selling bull in our 2012 sale. Average EPDs for Non-Parent Angus Bulls (Spring 2013) CED BW WW YW RADG SC Docility CEM Milk CW Marb REA $W $B

9 A Few Pairs Although we did not promote them, other than say we would sell a few pairs we will sell some of our best proven cows 710 Woodland Burgess Pride Born: Feb. 2, 2007 Tattoo 710 Summitcrest Scotch Cap 0B45 Gardens Highmark Green Garden Pride6128 S1 B/R New Design 036 Woodland Burgess Pride 23 Woodland Burgess Pride 048 Woodland Burgess Pride 710 As a bred heifer $W RADG 0.20 $B Progeny record (ratios): 3 BW 114, 3 WW 106, 2 YW 102. Progeny (4 records): IMF 96, REA 104, Rib fat 96 & rump fat ratio 92. One of my favorites since she was weaned, the calf she will have at side will be the sixth calf she has raised. 2 daughters replace her. Her average calving interval has been 366 days and includes a set of twins that she raised with an actual weaning weight over 1,000 lbs at 5 months of age. Correction: pasture exposed to A A R Ten X 1309 ( ) from 6/10 to 7/23/12. Ratios tell you how a cow compared in the herd but this cows 96 IMF ratio doesn t tell that the average %IMF of 4 calves is Her 2012 calf (pictured) has yet to be scanned but her DNA profile for CW, Marbling and REA is 10, 10 & 10 (ten is the highest possible) and her resulting $B of is one of the highest females in the Angus breed. 710 had an IMF of 5.78 (ratio 124) and rib eye area of 12.3 (ratio 101) as a yearling. She is calving later this year because she was flushed in Her only sons were her first two calves and they were the top bulls in their calf crop. She has always calved with no assistance. 710 and her 2012 heifer calf on pasture. $VALUE INDEXES ($W & $B): These are multi-trait selection indexes expressed in dollars per head. The $ Value is an estimate of how future progeny of a sire are expected to perform, on average, compared to progeny of other sires in the data base. The cost and revenue estimates are on a 3 year rolling average so $ values change with changes in the market. $W: Value expressed in dollars per head is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for pre-weaning merit. $W includes both revenue and cost adjustments associated with differences in birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), maternal milk (milk) and mature cow size (MW). B: Value in dollars per head is the expected average difference in future progeny performance for post-weaning growth and carcass value compared to progeny of other sires. $B includes WW, YW, feedlot gain, feed consumption and feed cost and cattle price differences as a result of carcass weight (CW), quality grade (Marbling) and yield grade (REA, fat & CW). Woodland Burgess Pride 113, one of the twins; she sold for $4,000 to Keith Arntzen in the 2012 NILE sale, the other remains in the herd calf, after weaning her $B of is one of the top in the breed.

10 911 Woodland Blackbird (AMF) Born: Jan. 28, 2009 Tattoo 911 Bon View New Design 1407 Sydgen 1407 Corona 2016 VVAR Perfection 142F 180K B/R Destination Woodland Blackbird 719 Woodland Blackbird 305 Woodland Power 717 as a bred heifer. 717 Woodland Power Born: Feb. 11, 2007 Tattoo 717 Summitcrest Scotch Cap 0B45 Gardens Highmark Green Garden Pride6128 S1 B/R New Design 036 Woodland Burgess Pride 23 Woodland Burgess Pride $W RADG 0.20 $B Progeny record (ratios): 4 BW 98, 4 WW 95, 4 YW 98. Progeny (4 records): IMF 108, REA 100, Rib fat 122 & rump fat ratio 113. Her on scan record as a yearling %IMF 5.92 (ratio 127) and REA 12.9 (ratio 106). A daughter and 2 grand daughters replace her. Her average calving interval has been 373 days. Her son was one of the featured bulls in last years sale and sold to Robert Ralston of Brockton for $4250. His performance: Adj 205 wt. 796 (ratio 103); adj. 363 wt (ratio 104); %IMF 5.73 (ratio 121) and Adj. REA 16.4 (ratio 112). A full brother sells at side, born February 7, Birth wt. 69, tattoo 316 and Sired by HA Program Her $B ranks in the top 2% of current dams. 97 Woodland Jeri (AMC) Born: Jan. 24, 2009 Tattoo 97 Bon View New Design 1407 Sydgen 1407 Corona 2016 VVAR Perfection 142F 180K B/R Destination Woodland Jeri 721 Woodland JCM Jeri $W RADG 0.19 $B Sells as commercial (without papers). AMC carrier used as a embryo recipient. As a two year old she raised a bull with an adj.205 wt of 857. Last year she had twin heifer calves (both (AMC) that weighed total 992 lbs. actual weight at 6 months of age. We tried to implant an embryo again last year but failed. She is bred to the top selling bull in Arntzen s 2102 Sale, A A R Ten X Should calve around March 20. We will get a DNA sample of the calf and test it if the buyer request. If the calf test AMF we will register & transfer it at no cost to the buyer. She is a heck of a calf raiser $W RADG 0.16 $B Progeny record (ratios): 2 BW 116, 2 WW 106, 1 YW 103. Progeny (1 record): IMF 86, REA 97, Rib fat 83 & rump fat ratio 87. Her dam and 2 maternal sisters remain in the herd. Her average calving interval including the calf at side is 364 days. This is a big, beautiful cow and she produces calves just like her. Her 2011 son was a standout and top selling bull at $5250 selling to Larry Roberton of Opheim. Sells with an outstanding bull calf by AAR Ten X 7008 S A ( ) born Feb. 14, birth weight 96 A A R Ten X 7008 S A. One of the most used sires in EPDs: CED 10, BW 0.1, WW 64, YW 133, Marb. 1.18, REA 0.71, $W and $B Sire of the bull calf selling with 911. A A R Ten X 1309 ( ) as a yearling was the top selling bull in 2012 Arntzen s sale. He is a super calving ease sire and sire of the calf with #97. EPD s: CED 16, BW 1.7, WW 50, YW 110, RADG 0.27, CEM 13, Milk 34, $W & $B

11 Woodland Farms Selection Criteria I avoid single trait selection and try to select simultaneously for several traits. First and foremost is trouble-free. We try to select cows that calve every twelve months without assistance and know how to take care of a calf. We select for easily managed, quite tempered cows but under our conditions most cows are not difficult to work with. Other traits: calving ease comes up again, moderate birth weights and good growth. We don t try to maximize growth but we keep pushing for as much growth as possible as long as it doesn t create problems. We keep and eye on mature weight EPDs and try to avoid extreme Milk EPDs although sometimes these can jump up on you. Carcass Traits: Some breeders ignore carcass traits saying they don t get paid for it. If the Seedstock producer does not improve carcass traits, who will? Fortunately, we can have good carcass merit and still excel in other traits. Feedlot operators who ultimately get your calves know the value of carcass merit and it is not an accident that Angus and Angus-cross feeders have the greatest demand. The feedlots who do well with your calves probably won t write and tell you how great they were but they will make an extra effort to get them again. That s what reputation cattle are all about. I want to thank everyone that makes an effort to attend our sale. I especially want to thank Bruce and Linda Hould who fed and developed the bulls; Iva and the crew at Glasgow Stockyards and the Glasgow Courier for helping produce my cattle brochure. Average EPDs for Current Angus Dams (Spring 2013) CED BW WW YW RADG SC Docility CEM Milk CW Marb REA $W $B Catalog Correction Cow 710 was bred to BDAR Predestined Y086 on 5/29/12 and pasture exposed to A A R Ten X /10 to 7/23/12. Should calve to 1309.